Violation of right to peaceful assembly of UMO "Ilinden"

See other stories:

PETRICH, 29 July 2001 - Activists of the United Macedonian Organisation "Ilinden" were again prevented from commemorating the anniversary of the Ilinden Uprising; the commemoration had been planned to be carried out in the Samuilova Krepost locality near Petrich. As in previous years, the Petrich mayor prohibited the commemoration and police blocked the way to the scene.

The organisation notified the town mayor about the forthcoming activities on 16 July, but did not receive a refusal in the prescribed five-day period. The letter of refusal was given to an organisation member unofficially by a municipal employee only on 26 July. According to the letter dated 20 July 2001, the planned activities could not be held because another organisation had already received authorisation for the same place, day and time.

On 27 July Yordan Kostadinov, UMO "Ilinden" chairman, was summoned to the Sandanski police department where he was informed that the Blagoevgrad regional prosecutor also banned the event "for security reasons...and for the prevention of possible clashes...".

The organisation's attempt to mark the anniversary on 29 July was also hindered by the police, who stopped the first group traveling in two coaches and six cars at the entrance of a nearby village. The officer did not let them continue their way to the Samuilova Krepost locality because police units were allegedly conducting training activities in the area. The second group, consisting of another three coaches and a dozen cars, was also turned back. Only two cars managed to get to Samuilova Krepost.

The organisation activitists who were turned back made an attempt to lay flowers at the Anton Popov monument in Petrich, but they were met by uniformed and plain-clothes policeofficers, who stopped those carrying wreaths; the organisation activists only managed to lay flowers. According to the reports of UMO "Ilinden" activists, three of the people who had taken photos were detained by police for about 3 hours for identity checks.

The organisation finally managed to mark the anniversary with short speeches at a location in the town of Petrich.

Back to Human rights news main page